Improvement in rail-joints



' H. W. OAPPELL.

Rail Joint.

No. 217,337. Patented July 8,1879.

WITNESSES:

% MLZQQZZA TTORNEKS NIFETERS, PHOTQLITHQGRAPHER, WASIHNGTON u G UNITED STAT S PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY W. GAFPELL, OF'NEWLISBON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TO CHARLES GAPPELL, OF ST. PETERSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN RAIL-JOINTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 217,337, dated July 8, 1879; application filed March 31, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY WILLIAM GAP- PELL, of New Lisbon, in the county of Columbiana and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Railroad Rail Joints, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side view of myimproved railroad-railjoint Fig. 2, a transverse section' of same. Figs. 3 to 6 represent front and end views of the splice-plates. Figs. 7 and 8 show a side and end view of the railroad-rail, and Figs. 9 and 10 a side and end view of the key. Fig. 11 shows the double-headed bolt. Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the pin. Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the clamp. Fig. 14. is a plan view of the splice-plate.

Similar letters of reference indicate corre sponding parts in the drawings.

The object of my invention is to furnish a device by which the ends of railroad-rails may be firmly connected, allowing a longitudinal movement for expansion and contraction, but preventing any lateral or vertical motion.

The railto which my invention is applied is of that class known as the T-rails, constructed with a series of holes, a a, and a parallel-sided central slot, 1); and to securely unite the adjacent ends of each rail I use on either side of the joint flat splice-plates, one of which is provided with holes 0 c c c, and the other has corresponding key-hole-shaped slots at d (I d, for the insertion of the double-headed bolts. The double-headed bolts are constructed with tapering bodies c, and provided with large and small heads, f and g, and circumferential grooves h underneath their smaller head g. The bolts are made with the tapering or conical bodies, in order that they may the more securely fit into the rail and allow a greater neatness in fit. Said bolts are inserted through the holes 0 c c c ofthe splice-plates, and through those of the rails, and through the circular portion of the apertures d in the splice-plate, the groove forming a short neck between the small head and body of the bolt, allowing the keyhole-shaped slots of the latter splice-plate,

when moved lengthwise into position, to encircle the neck of the bolt and firmly clamp the rails between the splice-plates. The holes in the rails being somewhatlarger than the body of the bolt permits a longitudinal motion for expansion and contraction.

The splice-plates and bolts being arranged in proper relation, as before described, the flat oblong-headed key 0', having at or near its smaller end a hole, j, is passed through the parallel-sided central slots, 1), of both rails and plates, and the pin is is then inserted and made to enter the hole in the key, by which the several parts are substantially held in their proper relation.

The projeetingfootpieces or flanges l of the splice-plates extend over the base of the rail and rest upon the ties, and are provided with holes m, in which the hooks a n of the triangular-shaped clamps 0 are inserted, said clamps being securely spiked to the ties, holding the rails in position, and preventing, in

connection with the above-described doubleheaded bolts and key, any vertical or lateral movement.

Having thus briefly described my invention, I claim- 1. The combination of the T-ra-il with the splice plates provided with the key holeshaped slots 01 d and central slot, 11, projecting flanges, center key, and bolts, substantially as set forth.

2. In a railroad-rail joint, the combination of the double-headed bolts provided with the tapering body 0, circumferential groove 71., large head f, and smaller head g, with the splice plates having the apertures b, c, and d, the key 1;, and bolt k, as shown and described.

3. 1n combination with a railroad-rail and splice-plates extended to lap upon the flange of the rail and the sleeper, the triangularshaped clamps o, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

HENRY WILLIAM OAPPELL. 

